Part 40 (1/2)

ERIPUIT COELO FULMEN SCEPTRUM QUE TYRANNIS. (_He drew fire from heaven and wrenched the sceptre from tyrants._) A genius pointing with his right hand to a lightning-rod attracting the electric spark, and with his left to a broken crown and sceptre at his feet. Exergue: SCULPSIT ET DICAVIT AUG. DUPRe ANNO MDCCLx.x.xIV. (_Sculpsit et dicavit Augustinus Dupre, anno 1784: Engraved and dedicated by Augustin Dupre, in the year 1784_).[56],[57]

[Footnote 56: See INTRODUCTION, pages x and xxiii.]

[Footnote 57: For original doc.u.ments, see No. 16, page 95.]

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN was born in Boston, January 17, 1706. He began life as an apprentice to his brother, a printer; went to England to follow his trade, but ultimately settled in Philadelphia in 1726, where he edited the ”Pennsylvania Gazette,” and in 1732 began the publication of ”Poor Richard's Almanac.” He founded the first fire company in 1737, and soon afterward the first fire insurance company. In 1752 he discovered the ident.i.ty of lightning and the electric fluid, and invented the lightning-rod. In consideration of his brilliant services to science, the degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by the university of Oxford in 1762. Benjamin Franklin was a member of the Continental Congress, 1775-1776; a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the commissioners to France, 1776-1785. He signed the offensive and defensive treaty with France, in Paris, (p. 094) February 6, 1778; and the definitive treaty of peace with England, September 3, 1783. He was governor of Pennsylvania, 1786-1788; and died in Philadelphia, April 17, 1790. Congress ordered a mourning of four months, and the National a.s.sembly of France, on the proposal of Mirabeau, seconded by Monsieur de la Rochefoucauld and General de la Fayette, went into mourning for three days. Turgot composed in his honor the celebrated latin verse: _Eripuit coelo fulmen sceptrum que tyrannis_.

No. 16. (p. 095) PLATE XVI.

_1786._

Benj. Franklin natus Boston. XVII Jan. MDCCVI. [Rx]. Eripuit coelo fulmen sceptrum que tyrannis.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

BENJ. FRANKLIN NATUS BOSTON. XVII JAN. MDCCVI. (_Benjamin Franklin, natus Boston, 17 Januarii, 1706: Benjamin Franklin, born in Boston, January 17, 1706._) Bust of Franklin, facing the left. On edge of bust, DUPRe F. (_fecit_).

Within a crown of oak: ERIPUIT COELO FULMEN SCEPTRUM QUE TYRANNIS.

(_He drew fire from Heaven and wrenched the sceptre from tyrants_).

Exergue: SCULPSIT ET DICAVIT AUG. DUPRe ANNO MDCCLx.x.xVI. (_Sculpsit et dicavit Augustinus Dupre, anno 1786: Engraved and dedicated by Augustin Dupre, in the year 1786_).[58]

[Footnote 58: See INTRODUCTION, pages x and xxiii.]

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_William Short to Thomas Jefferson._

To the Honourable Thomas JEFFERSON, Paris, June the 14th, 1790.

Secretary of State.

Sir: On the news of Dr. Franklin's death being received here, the National a.s.sembly decreed that they would go in mourning for three days--and that the President should write to Congress to notify to them the part they take in the melancholy event. A kind of enthusiasm has spread also through the different parts of the capital--different societies and bodies have shown their adhesion to the sentiments of the National a.s.sembly in different ways.

I am, etc., Wm. SHORT.

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_Thomas Jefferson to the President of the National a.s.sembly of (p. 096) France._

To Philadelphia, March 8th, 1791.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL a.s.sEMBLY OF FRANCE.

Sir: I have it in charge from the President of the United States of America to communicate to the National a.s.sembly of France the peculiar sensibility of Congress to the tribute paid to the memory of Benjamin Franklin, by the enlightened and free Representatives of a great nation, in their decree of the 11th of June, 1790.